--- title: Vegetable Consumption in Germany on the Rise description: Per capita vegetable consumption in Germany has skyrocketed in recent years. Just as surprising as the above-average increase in this country are the canonical: https://www.datapulse.de/en/vegetable-consumption-de/ author: Maria Fernandez published: 2025-07-28T11:51:30+00:00 modified: 2026-09-05T16:09:55+00:00 section: Health language: en-US publisher: DataPulse Research image: https://www.datapulse.de/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Vegetable-Trends_EN-1-819x1024.png --- # Vegetable Consumption in Germany on the Rise Per capita vegetable consumption in Germany has skyrocketed in recent years. Just as surprising as the above-average increase in this country are the declining or only very slightly rising figures in the Mediterranean countries. Nutritionists repeatedly cite the cuisines of Italy and France as benchmarks for a healthy, salad- and vegetable-heavy diet under the title “Mediterranean diet.” What could be the reasons for the shift away from roasts and dumplings in Germany? ## Meat-free diets on the rise The number of vegetarians in Germany rose from 5.29 million in 2016 to 8.12 million in 2023. The number of vegans increased from 0.8 million to 1.52 million during the same period. The number of people who eat a completely animal-free diet has almost doubled in eight years, accounting for approximately two percent of the population. Vegetarians account for ten percent (source: veganivore.de). If we look at per capita vegetable consumption over the same period, we see an almost identical trend. In the US, the percentage of the population that is vegan rose from three to five percent between 2020 and 2022. The European average is 6.7 percent for vegetarians and 2.1 percent for vegans per country. Most vegans, accounting for four percent of the population, live in Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Ireland (source: veganivore.de). The explanation that vegetable consumption in Germany has risen above average due to the increased shift away from meat cannot be substantiated by reliable data, but it is logical in itself. Cost considerations are unlikely to play a role for lower-income households, as cheap meat from discount stores costs less than vegetables in quantities that provide the same level of satiety. ## Who makes up the largest proportion of vegans? When looking for the target group for vegan nutrition, we come across the Hollywood production “young, female, single.” The “single” part is not proven, but it is true that the majority of vegans in Germany, 70 percent, are young and female. Women of Generation Z are the driving force behind animal-free diets. Today’s under-30s represent the largest share of both vegans and vegetarians. In general, however, the trend toward more frequent use of meatless alternatives has become established in Germany. This also applies to “die-hard” meat eaters. Between 2020 and 2024, the proportion of shoppers who “often buy meatless alternatives” rose from 29 to 39 percent (source: veganivore.de). ## What does the future hold for vegetables? We can say that everything will continue to be green for vegetables in the future. The number of people who are turning away from animal-based foods is likely to continue in the coming generations. If meat products were to regain the status they had in Germany in the 1960s and 1970s, with corresponding prices, the number of flexitarians would also skyrocket again. Back then, there were plenty of meatless dishes in German households without terms such as “vegan” or “vegetarian” being used. Meat was expensive. --- Source: https://www.datapulse.de/en/vegetable-consumption-de/